Pipelining apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a lining of cement mortar in which an annular rotating dispersion head is used for spraying the mortar against the pipe walls. A shaft formed with fluted slots is coaxially positioned with respect to the annular dispersion head in order to obtain a uniform dispersion of the mortar.

United States Patent [1 1 Donnelly [451 Jan. 1,1974

[ PIPELINING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Frank R. Donnelly, Rockaway, NJ.[73] Assignee: Spin Company, Newfoundland, NJ.

[22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 294,014

[52] US. Cl 239/216, 239/218.5, 118/317, 118/D1G. 10

[51] Int. Cl BOSb 3/10 [58] Field of Search 239/215, 216, 218.5,239/222, 228, 380; 118/317, DIG. 10

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,758,352 Perkins 239/2l8.5X

3,301,159 1/1967 Current 239/216 X 2,303,088 11/1942 Perkins 2,670,9913/1954 Perkins 239/218.5

Primary E.raminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-James .1. LoveAttorneyMarvin A. Naigur 57 ABSTRACT An apparatus is provided forcoating the interior walls of a pipeline with a lining of cement mortarin which an annular rotating dispersion head is used for spraying themortar against the pipe walls. A shaft formed with fluted slots iscoaxially positioned with respect to the annular dispersion head inorder to obtain a uniform dispersion of the mortar.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN 1 1974 PIPELINING APPARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the fabrication of subterranean pipelinesit is necessary to coat the interior pipe walls with a coating ofmortar. It is essential that the mortar be uniformly dispersed againstthe pipe walls to form a mortar coating which is relatively thin and hasa smooth exterior surface. There has been a problem in achievinguniformity of motar dispersion within the pipeline. This was due to theremotely operated equipment which has heretofore been used which reliedsolely on a rotating dispersion head for spraying the mortar onto thepipe walls. The prior dispersion head had a tendency to become cloggedand it was inherently difficult to obtain a uniform dispersion ofmortar. This difficulty has been overcome by providing a fluted shaftthat can be mounted coaxially with respect to the dispersion head. Inthis manner, the fluted shaft is capable of acting as a high speedaugering device for uniformly dispersing the mortar against the pipewalls. Also, the fluted shaft acts to break the lumps and foreignmaterial usually found in the mortar, such that the slots of thedispersion head are kept free for even dispersion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an illustrative embodimentdemonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus for coating the interior walls ofa pipeline with alining of cement mortar. The pipelining apparatus includes a motor driveand a stationary shaft formed with an internal central housing forreceiving a continuous flow of mortar. The shaft is exteriorly mountedon the motor drive, and a mortar dispersing head defining an annularchamber is journaled on thestationary shaft and operatively connected tothe drive motor for rotating the mortar dispersing head. The stationaryshaft has exterior slots such that the central housing is in flowcommunication with the annular chamber. A solid shaft is mounted in thecentral housing and formed with a pair of fluted slots, such that theflow of mortar is dispersed and passed through the exterior slots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above brief description, as wellas further objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detaileddescription of a presently preferred but nonetheless illustrativeembodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pipelining apparatus in which the flutedshaft of the present invention is employed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the fluted shaft, shownin FIG. 1, removed from the pipelining apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the fluted shaft tobetter show the configuration of the slots in the fluted shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1, thereis shown a pipelining machine generally designated by the referencenumeral 10, which is positioned in a pipeline 12. As indicated bydirectional arrows l4, mortar cement is sprayed from the pipeliningmachine 10 against the interior surface of the pipeline to form a liningof mortar on the surface. It should be understood that the pipeliningmachine 10 is drawn through the pipeline 12 by means of a cable which isconnected to a winch. As the cable and winch arrangement are well knownin the art, it has not been shown in the drawings for the sake ofsimplicity.

The pipelining machine 10 comprises an alternating current motor drive16, a shaft assembly 18 mounted on the drive 16, and mortar dispersionhead 20 journaled for rotation on the shaft assembly 18.

The motor drive 16 includes a cylindrical housing 22 with an end plate24 having a center bore 26 for receiving the shaft assembly 18. Mountedfor rotation in the cylindrical housing 22 is an annular field unit 26and rotor 28 which drive the shaft assembly 18.

The shaft assembly 18 comprises a hollow drive shaft 30 that is keyed tothe rotor 28 and is sized to be coaxially mounted on a stationary hollowshaft 32 which is fixed to the rear portion of cylindrical housing 22. Astepped down section 33 is formed along the outer surface of shaft 32 toform a bearing surface for drive shaft 30. The inner walls of stationaryshaft 32 define an internal cylindrical chamber 34 which is in flowcommunication with a supply of mortar cement that is pumped intocylindrical chamber 34. As best shown by the directional arrows 14, themortar flows out through cylindrical chamber 34, since the walls ofshaft 32 are formed with elongated slots 36. The conduit for supplyingmortar as well as the electrical line for powering motor drive 16 passalong the pipeline 12 to the surface and have not been shown in thedrawings as these are well known in the art.

Mounted on the drive shaft 30 is the mortar dispersion head 20, whichincludes an inner end plate 40 spaced apart from an outer end plate 42and joined by a series of separated dispersing blades 44 to define anannular chamber 46. A truncated support flange 48 is secured to innerend plate 40 and secured to the drive shaft 30 by means of a set screw50. Between inner end plate 40 and flange 48 there is positioned abearing 52, with inner race 54 being keyed to stationary shaft 32 andouter race 56 being keyed to end plate 40 and flange 48. Thus, the driveshaft 30 is rotated on the stepped down section 33 while dispersion head20 is journaled at the end of shaft 30 by hearing 52.

As best shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the present invention thereis provided a high speed angering assembly, generally designated by thereference numeral 60. The angering assembly 60 is comprised of an outerflange 62 which is formed with a recess 64 for receiving an auger bit66. The auger bit 66 is in the form of a solid shaft 68, one end ofwhich is formed with a pointed tip section and the other end of which isformed with a reduced diameter stub shaft 72. The shaft 68 is machinedwith a pair of fluted slots 74 having a helical configuration. The augerbit 66 can be fabricated by obtaining a large twist drill of generally 1inch diameter or greater and machining the pointed tip section 70 andreduced diameter stub shaft 72, in the form shown in FIG. 2.

The stub shaft 72 is provided with an internally threaded opening 76 forthreadably engaging a set screw 78 which locks auger bit 66 onto flange62. As shown in FIG. 1, the augering assembly 60 can be secured to outerplate 42 by means of bolts 80. The auger bit 66 is received in theinternal chamber 34 with the fluted slots 74 spaced apart from and infront of the openings 36. By referring to the directional arrows 14, itcan be appreciated that the flow of mortar is directed toward the tipsection 70 and along the fluted slots 74. Thus, by progressivelyinspecting the path of the directional arrows 14, it can be seen thatthe mortar is conveyed in internal chamber 34 against tip section 70 incontact with the fluted slots 74 and passed through elongated slots 36into annular chamber 46 and out between the dispersing blades 44. Inthis manner, through the configuration of the fluted slots 74, therotation of the auger bit 66 creates an even flow and distribution ofmortar through annular chamber 46 onto the inner walls of the pipeline12.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a liningof cement mortar comprising a motor drive, a stationary shaft formedwith an internal central housing for receiving a continuous flow of saidmortar and directing said flow in a forward direction, said shaftexteriorly mounted on said motor drive, a mortar dispersing headdefining an annular chamber journaled on said stationary shaft andoperatively connected to said drive motor for rotating said mortardispersing head, said stationary shaft having exterior slots such thatsaid central housing is in flow communication with said annular chamber,a solid shaft mounted on said mortar dispersing head and positioned insaid central housing, and said solid shaft formed with a pair of flutedslots and having a pointed end configuration positioned in opposingrelation to said forward direction of said flow,

such that said flow of mortar is dispersed and passed through saidexterior slots.

2. An apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline accordingto claim 1, in which said slots are formed with a helical configuration.

3. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a liningof cement mortar comprising an alternating current motor drive formedwith an annular configuration to define a central internal opening, astationary shaft secured to said motor drive and positioned in saidinternal opening, said stationary shaft formed with an internal centralchamber having exterior slots for receiving a continuous flow of mortar,a hollow drive shaft journaled on said stationary shaft and operativelyconnected to said motor drive for rotation, a mortar dispersing headformed with an annular chamber having outer mortar dispersion slots,said mortar dispersing head journaled on said stationary shaft and keyedto said drive shaft for rotation, a solid shaft mounted in said internalcentral chamber in opposing relation to said flow of mortar, and saidsolid shaft formed with a pair of fluted slots whereby the flow of saidmortar is conveyed in said internal central chamber against said solidshaft in contact with said fluted slots and passed through said exteriorslots into said annular chamber and out through said dispersion slots.

4. An apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline accordingto claim 3, in which said slots are formed with a helical configuration.

5. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline according toclaim 3 in which the end of said auger bit opposite said pointed endconfiguration is integrally formed with a reduced diameter stub section,and said mortar dispersing head includes an end flange having a recessopening sized to receive said stub shaft section for mounting said augerbit in said internal central chamber.

1. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a liningof cement mortar comprising a motor drive, a stationary shaft formedwith an internal central housing for receiving a continuous flow of saidmortar and directing said flow in a forward direction, said shaftexteriorly mounted on said motor drive, a mortar dispersing headdefining an annular chamber journaled on said stationary shaft andoperatively connected to said drive motor for rotating said mortardispersing head, said stationary shaft having exterior slots such thatsaid central housing is in flow communication with said annular chamber,a solid shaft mounted on said mortar dispersing head and positioned insaid central housing, and said solid shaft formed with a pair of flutedslots and having a pointed end configuration positioned in opposingrelation to said forward direction of said flow, such that said flow ofmortar is dispersed and passed through said exterior slots.
 2. Anapparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline according toclaim 1, in which said slots are formed with a helical configuration. 3.Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline with a lining ofcement mortar comprising an alternating current motor drive formed withan annular configuration to define a central internal opening, astationary shaft secured to said motor drive and positioned in saidinternal opening, said stationary shaft formed with an internal centralchamber having exterior slots for receiving a continuous flow of mortar,a hollow drive shaft journaled on said stationary shaft and operativelyconnected to said motor drive for rotation, a mortar dispersing headformed with an annular chamber having outer mortar dispersion slots,said mortar dispersing head journaled on said stationary shaft and keyedto said drive shaft for rotation, a solid shaft mounted in said internalcentral chamber in opposing relation to said flow of mortar, and saidsolid shaft formed with a pair of fluted slots whereby the flow of saidmortar is conveyed in said internal central chamber against said solidshaft in contact with said fluted slots and passed through said exteriorslots into said annular chamber and out through said dispersion slots.4. An apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline accordingto claim 3, in which said slots are formed with a helical configuration.5. Apparatus for coating the interior walls of a pipeline according toclaim 3 in which the end of said auger bit opposite said pointed endconfiguration is integrally formed with a reduced diameter stub section,and said mortar dispersing head includes an end flange having a recessopening sized to receive said stub shaft section for mounting said augerbit in said internal central chamber.